The Jim-Swan area includes wetland, forest and shrub lowland habitat and Upland Game Birds (Phasianidae) Birds in this family are nonmigratory and Regularly Observed : Rarely Observed : surrounding wooded uplands and cliffs. This diversity of habitat supports a generally occupy woodlands & brush (grouse) or alpine/subalpine habitat ___ Bonaparte’s Gull ___ Glaucous-winged Gull rich diversity of birds. Family groups and species are listed in American (ptarmigan). ___ Mew Gull Ornithological Union order and are classed as either “Regularly” or “Rarely” Regularly Observed : ___ Herring Gull observed based on historical observations and expected seasonal abundance. ___ Ruffed Grouse ___ Arctic Tern Most species listed are migratory and leave the area in the fall and return in ___ Spruce Grouse April, May and early June. Generally, the best birding is in spring and early ___ Willow Ptarmigan Owls (Strigidae) Nocturnal raptors (owls) are primarily active at night. summer when birds vocalize often to establish territories, and sport their Although most are fairly common they are rarely observed. The Short- most striking plumage. Birds are generally more secretive as they progress to Diurnal Raptors (Accipitridae and Falconidae) These birds of prey are active eared Owl is the only true migrant. Other species may undergo short nesting and rearing young. Whatever the season, birds are engaged in life- during the day. Most are migratory; some Bald Eagles and Northern Goshawks seasonal movements depending on food availability. Listen for owls sustaining activity; be careful not to disrupt their activity. Take binoculars stay all year. Raptors have a wide variety of habitat preferences; Golden Eagles from February to April when they are announcing nesting territories. and your choice of field guide and enjoy the birds of Jim-Swan, a designated prefer the cliffs and alpine habitat above the wetlands while harriers prefer Regularly Observed: Rarely Observed : Important Bird Area. Report your sightings to Mat-Su Birders, a wild bird club, open marsh. ___ Great Horned Owl ___ Northern Hawk Owl at [email protected], to help increase our knowledge of species Regularly Observed : Rarely Observed : ___ Great Gray Owl occurrence. Your contributions will lead to more comprehensive future ___ Osprey ___ Rough-legged Hawk ___ Short-eared Owl editions of this checklist! Jim-Swan is part of the Knik River Public Use Area, ___ Bald Eagle ___ Peregrine Falcon ___ Boreal Owl and is managed by the Alaska Department of Natural Resources. ___ Northern Harrier ___ Gyrfalcon ___ Northern Saw-whet Owl ___ Sharp-shinned Hawk The Checklist By Family Group ___ Northern Goshawk Kingfishers (Alcedinidae) The handsome Belted Kingfisher is regularly ___ Red-tailed Hawk observed, often perched near water or diving for small fish. They (Harlan’s subspecies) occasionally winter here if they have access to open water and food. Waterfowl (Anatidae) Ducks, swans and geese are migratory birds and are very ___ Golden Eagle ___ Belted Kingfisher commonly observed in the Jim-Swan wetlands. While many nest here, others ___ American Kestrel only rest and feed before continuing their migration. Waterfowl can be ___ Merlin Aaron Ernst Woodpeckers (Picidae) These small to medium sized birds occupy observed near shore if not disturbed; a spotting scope and/or canoe will make wooded areas throughout Jim-Swan year-round except for the viewing these beautiful birds even better. migratory Northern Flicker. Regularly Observed : Rarely Observed : Rails and Cranes ( Gruiformes) Sandhills Cranes are observed regularly in Jim- Regularly Observed: Rarely Observed: ___ Common Loon ___ Greater White-fronted Goose Swan; sometimes seen in large flocks during migration. ___ Downy Woodpecker ___ Three-toed Woodpecker ___ Pacific Loon ___ Snow Goose ___ Sandhill Crane ___ Hairy Woodpecker ___ Northern Flicker ___ Horned Grebe ___ Gadwall

___ Red-necked Grebe ___ Blue-winged Teal Shorebirds (Charadriidae, Scolopacidae) These small to medium sized wading ___ Tundra Swan ___ Redhead birds occur in small numbers relative to more coastal areas. They are most easily Flycatchers ( Tyrannidae) Flycatchers are very small migratory birds ___ Trumpeter Swan ___ Long-tailed Duck observed during migration when feeding near shorelines, mudflats and wetlands. generally dull in color and often most easily identified by their call. ___ Canada Goose ___ Surf Scoter A few species such as yellowlegs and Wilson’s snipe nest here and are often Regularly Observed : Rarely Observed : ___ Northern Pintail ___ White-winged Scoter heard more than seen. ___ Alder Flycatcher ___ Western Wood-Pewee ___ Mallard ___ Red-breasted Merganser Regularly Observed : Rarely Observed : ___ Olive-sided Flycatcher* ___ Hammond’s Flycatcher ___ American Wigeon ___ Greater Yellowlegs ___ American Golden-Plover ___ Northern Shoveler ___ Lesser Yellowlegs ___ Semipalmated Plover Shrikes (Laniidae) The Northern Shrike is a medium-sized predatory ___ Green-winged Teal ___ Solitary Sandpiper ___ Whimbrel bird that is rarely observed in Jim-Swan. Migratory but some individuals ___ Canvasback ___ Spotted Sandpiper ___ Hudsonian Godwit spend the winter in this general region. Occupies diverse habitat. ___ Ring-necked Duck ___ Wilson’s Snipe ___ Semipalmated Sandpiper ___ Northern Shrike ___ Greater Scaup ___ Red-necked Phalarope ___ Pectoral Sandpiper ___ Lesser Scaup ___ Long-billed Dowitcher Jays & Ravens (Corvidae) Members of this family are perhaps our most ___ Bufflehead ___ Short-billed Dowitcher noticeable birds of all - smart, gregarious and comfortable in just about ___ Common Goldeneye any habitat. All three species are regularly observed year-round. ___ Barrow’s Goldeneye Gulls & Terns (Laridae) These are medium to large, migratory sea birds with ___ Gray Jay ___ Common Merganser long wings and overall white to gray body color. The Arctic Tern flies to ___ Black-billed Magpie Antarctic each year – an approximate round trip flight of 25,000 miles ___ Common Raven makes this the world’s greatest migrant! Swallows (Hirundinidae) Graceful and swift, swallows are migratory birds that spend their summers raising families on Alaska’s abundant insects! Wood Warblers (Parulidae) These birds are small, active migratory songbirds. Regularly Observed: Rarely Observed : Many are unusually colorful. Their preferred habitat of thick foliage means ___ Tree Swallow ___ Bank Swallow they are heard far more than seen – frustrating for even patient birders! IM WAN ___ Violet-green Swallow ___ Cliff Swallow Regularly Observed : Rarely Observed : The Birds of J -S ___ Orange-crowned Warbler ___ Blackpoll Warbler* A Checklist Chickadees (Paridae) Chickadees are regularly ___ Yellow Warbler observed, very small, year-round residents in any ___ Yellow-rumped Warbler wooded area. They keep us company even on the ___ Townsend’s Warbler* coldest winter days! ___ Northern Waterthrush

___ Black-capped Chickadee ___ Wilson’s Warbler

___ Boreal Chickadee

Sparrows (Emberizidae) Beautiful varied songs make up for unremarkable Nuthatches (Sittidae) The Red-breasted Nuthatch is heard more than plumage. Most are migratory; some White-Crowned sparrows and Dark-eyed seen and is regularly observed all year in wooded areas. juncos winter. Habitat preferences vary. ©Doug Lloyd ___ Red-breasted Nuthatch Regularly Observed : Rarely Observed : __ Savannah Sparrow __ Lapland Longspur Creeper (Certhiidae) The small Brown Creeper perfectly blends with the __ Fox Sparrow __ Snow Bunting tree trunks where it feeds and nests. Heard more than seen, it is regularly __ Song Sparrow observed all year. __ Lincoln’s Sparrow ___ Brown Creeper __ White-crowned Sparrow __ Golden-crowned Sparrow Dipper (Cinclidae) The American Dipper is an amazing bird that swims under __ Dark-eyed Junco swift water foraging for aquatic insects. A year-round resident, the dipper is rarely observed. Sings a beautiful warbling song. Blackbirds (Icteridae) Blackbirds are migratory songbirds. They generally

___ American Dipper prefer open shrubby areas, wetlands and forest edges.

Regularly Observed Rarely Observed

Kinglets (Regulidae) These tiny active birds occupy wooded areas. The ruby- ___ Rusty Blackbird* ___ Red-winged Blackbird crowned’s song is unusually lively and loud for one so small, and is frequently heard. The ruby-crowned is migratory; the golden-crowned is generally a year- Finches (Fringillidae) Most finches are fairly common but nomadic and round resident. irruptive; some years seen in large numbers seasonally, other years seen rarely. Regularly Observed : Rarely Observed: Generally heard calling while in flight, usually in flocks. ___ Ruby-crowned Kinglet ___ Golden-crowned Kinglet Regularly Observed : Rarely Observed : __ Pine Grosbeak __ White-winged Crossbill Thrushes (Turdidae) Migratory birds of wooded areas, thrushes are the __ Common Redpoll favorites of many birders in Jim-Swan for their extraordinarily lovely songs. __ Pine Siskin Regularly Observed : Rarely Observed: ___ Swainson’s Thrush ___ Townsend’s Solitaire * Species’ conservation status is of concern. ___ Hermit Thrush Reference Sources: Historical and current field reports; Birds of ___ American Robin South/Central Matanuska-Susitna Borough (A Checklist) by Mat-Su Birders;

___ Varied Thrush Field Guide to Birding in Anchorage by R.L. Scher; The Sibley Guide to Bird

Life & Behavior, and, The Sibley Guide to Birds by David Allen Sibley; A

Pipits (Motacillidae) Rarely observed in Jim-Swan, the American Pipit is a Birders Guide to Alaska by George C. West; Bird Biology Seminar by the ~ Always respect wildlife, its environment and the rights of others. small migratory bird that generally occurs in open grasslands and tundra. Laboratory of Ornithology at Cornell University ~ When birding, the welfare of the birds comes first. ___ American Pipit. Web Resources : groups.yahoo.com/group/akbirding/ ; www.audubon.org/bird/iba

The Code of Birding Ethics: www.americanbirding.org Created by the Knik River Watershed Group Waxwings (Bombycillidae) This beautiful year-round resident is regularly Art : USFWS Contributing artists: Bob Hines, Tom Kelley, Paul Kerris, Bob Funded by the U.S. FWS Alaska Coastal Program observed. Usually seen in flocks during winter – sometimes very large flocks. Savannah. Sponsored by the Palmer Soil and Water Conservation District ___ Bohemian Waxwing Map: Mapmakers Alaska 2007